Mapping the Road to the Fountain of Youth

Question 1

The advantages of H-FAST to the elderly are that it would be paired with a small or pocket-sized mobile unit for the weak or frail elderly patients. The unit can contain a force sensor that uses the main system as its liaison and can instantly and automatically send a request for an ambulance if significant force has been detected to have an impact on the unit, for instance, a fall (Tan, 2001). For the nonelderly, it can detect irregularities that may not be related to a target disease and later report it to the family's physician for a checkup. Furthermore, it assists doctors in early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, therefore, reducing the mortality rate and healthcare costs. The system is also vital for the elderly people who are in the rural areas and live a long way from the nearest hospital or doctor’s office. 

Question 2

H-FAST would most benefit the consumers or patients who suffer from some conditions such as CVA's, heart disease, and COPD because the gadget has customized attachments that allow for unrivaled personalization of patient care. The system will assist in lowering healthcare costs by getting rid of unnecessary hospital visits for the elderly in situations where the physician does not need to be seen in person (Tan, 2001). The system is recommended for patients or consumers whose health may be compromised or may be in jeopardy if they encounter possibly fatal, sudden or unpredictable downturns. 

Question 3

The H-FAST can also be linked up to the consumer’s watch and air conditioning system. Using a heartbeat sensor, the watch could monitor the frequency of heartbeat of the consumer. Using the up-and-coming RFID technology, it could monitor and record the heart condition of the patient through the arteries within the hand. It would allow the consumer to control their activities and nutrition (Tan, 2001). The technology can alert the nearest healthcare institution if the heartbeat of the consumer rises or fall away from the normal rate. The family physician will be able to get information from the central hub and offer the necessary care for the consumer. 

Question 4

One of the upcoming technologies where H-FAST has been used is home-based healthcare systems. The system will allow practitioners and physicians to treat a larger volume of clients because the technology will direct the patients to the correct facility. Due to the correct referral of patients, there will be less crowding in the waiting rooms. Most of the waiting will be reduced because the health physicians and practitioners will be aware of the patients’ condition. The technology has video capabilities, and it will reduce or eliminate unnecessary hospital visits (Tan, 2001). The visits can be arranged in order of urgency, therefore, improving the efficiency and favorable outcomes in the healthcare system. Furthermore, it will minimize healthcare costs and enhance the global life expectancy. 

Question 5

H-FAST could be applied in the vehicle industry. The increased demand for automobiles has increased road accidents and traffic hazards due to inadequate emergency services. The automatic sensors could detect accidents in lesser time and send the information to the central hub (Amin, Reaz, & Nasir, 2014). The central hub can then alert the police and nearest hospital about the accident. If the message is sent to the rescue teams in a short period, the number of fatal road accidents can be greatly reduced within the country. The technology should also include a switch where the rescue team can be called off if there is no casualty in the accident. The gadget should have a GPS module to enhance immediate location of the accident. The gadget should detect the accident through vibration sensors. 

References

Amin, M. S., Reaz, M. B. I., & Nasir, S. S. (2014). Integrated vehicle accident detection and location system. TELKOMNIKA (Telecommunication Computing Electronics and Control) , 12 (1), 73-78.

Tan, J. K. (2001). Health management information systems: Methods and practical applications . Jones & Bartlett Learning.